ELA Common Core Sample Questions - Grade 5

New York State Testing Program

ELA

Common Core Sample Questions

5 Grade

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Grade 5 ELA

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Common Core Sample Questions

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Five-year-old Heidi, an orphan, has just been taken by her Aunt Dete to stay with

her grandfather, Alm-Uncle, who lives alone in a hut in the mountains in

Switzerland.

1

As soon as Dete had disappeared the old man went back to his bench, and

there he remained seated, staring on the ground without uttering a sound, while

thick curls of smoke floated upward from his pipe. Heidi, meanwhile, was enjoying

herself in her new surroundings; she looked about till she found a shed, built against

the hut, where the goats were kept; she peeped in, and saw it was empty. She

continued her search and presently came to the fir trees behind the hut. A strong

breeze was blowing through them, and there was a rushing and roaring in their

topmost branches, Heidi stood still and listened. The sound growing fainter, she

went on again, to the farther corner of the hut, and round to where her grandfather

was sitting. Seeing that he was in exactly the same position as when she left him, she

went and placed herself in front of the old man, and putting her hands behind her

back, stood and gazed at him. Her grandfather looked up, and as she continued

standing there without moving, "What is it you want?" he asked.

2

"I want to see what you have inside the house," said Heidi.

3

"Come then!" and the grandfather rose and went before her towards the hut.

4

"Bring your bundle of clothes in with you," he bid her as she was following.

5

"I shan't want them any more," was her prompt answer.

6

The old man turned and looked searchingly at the child, whose dark eyes

were sparkling in delighted anticipation of what she was going to see inside. "She is

certainly not wanting in intelligence," he murmured to himself. "And why shall you

not want them any more?" he asked aloud.

7

"Because I want to go about like the goats with their thin light legs."

8

"Well, you can do so if you like," said her grandfather, "but bring the things in,

we must put them in the cupboard."

9

Heidi did as she was told. The old man now opened the door and Heidi

stepped inside after him; she found herself in a good-sized room, which covered the

whole ground floor of the hut. A table and a chair were the only furniture; in one

corner stood the grandfather's bed, in another was the hearth with a large kettle

hanging above it; and on the further side was a large door in the wall--this was the

cupboard. The grandfather opened it; inside were his clothes, some hanging up,

others, a couple of shirts, and some socks and handkerchiefs, lying on a shelf; on a

second shelf were some plates and cups and glasses, and on a higher one still, a

round loaf, smoked meat, and cheese, for everything that Alm-Uncle needed for his

food and clothing was kept in this cupboard. Heidi, as soon as it was opened, ran

quickly forward and thrust in her bundle of clothes, as far back behind her

grandfather's things as possible, so that they might not easily be found again. She

Grade 5 ELA

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Common Core Sample Questions

then looked carefully round the room, and asked, "Where am I to sleep, grandfather?"

10

"Wherever you like," he answered.

11

Heidi was delighted, and began at once to examine all the nooks and corners

to find out where it would be pleasantest to sleep. In the corner near her

grandfather's bed she saw a short ladder against the wall; up she climbed and found

herself in the hayloft. There lay a large heap of fresh sweet-smelling hay, while

through a round window in the wall she could see right down the valley.

Words that could be defined for students are in bold.

Grade 5 ELA

3

Common Core Sample Questions

1 An important contrast in the story is between

A Heidi's grandfather's concern and Aunt Dete's neglect B Heidi's old clothes and her new clothes C Heidi's former bedroom and her new bedroom D Heidi's cheerfulness and her grandfather's lack of emotion

Key: D

Aligned CCLS: RL.5.3

Commentary: This question aligns to CCLS RL.5.3 in that it asks the student to identify an important contrast within the story.

Rationale: Option D is correct. Both the point of view and the narration of actions highlight the two characters' contrasting traits. There is no mention of Aunt Dete's behavior or any contrast between clothes or bedrooms.

Grade 5 ELA

4

Common Core Sample Questions

2 The narrator of the story helps the reader understand the grandfather by

A describing his face and revealing his thoughts B describing his home and quoting his speech C telling Heidi's opinion of him and revealing his past D telling his emotions and showing his frustration

Key: B

Aligned CCLS: RL.5.6

Commentary: This question aligns to CCLS RL.5.6 in that it requires the student to understand how a third-person limited point of view (primarily aligned with Heidi) develops the grandfather's character.

Rationale: Option B is correct. The grandfather is characterized through the things he says (dialogue) and the setting. The narrator does not describe the grandfather physically, does not reveal his inner thoughts or tell about his past, and does not directly provide Heidi's opinion of him.

Grade 5 ELA

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Common Core Sample Questions

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